[Bilateral ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: independent events or bilateral disease?]

OBJECTIVES

In a retrospective study of bilateral Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), cases were analysed to determine the relationship between the two events.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From 1971 to 2001, among 812 patients with DCIS in Bergonie Institute, 78 suffering from bilateral DCIS and only19 were treated entirely in our institute. It was either synchronous DCIS or asynchronous (before 6 months). We realised a comparative study between, clinical and pathological characteristics of each DCIS.

RESULTS

In case of asynchronous DCIS, contra lateral DCIS occurred after a median 75-months period and until 22 years after the first event. We found at least for one histological subtype an agreement in 53% of cases. In 31% of cases, the grade was the same. For low plus intermediary grade versus high grade, the agreement was 53%. There was a subtype and grade agreement of 32% and a subtype or grade agreement in 63% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Histological agreement between the two lesions indicated the possible existence of in situ bilateral disease in these women. The local relapse rate was 20% and all of them were invasive. The risk of relapse in controlateral breast is high and patient needs a long follow up even in case of mastectomy.

[Standards, options and recommendations (SOR) for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of osteosarcoma. Groupe de travail SOR]

CONTEXT

The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centres and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. For pediatric issues, this project is a collaboration between the FNCLCC and the French Society of Pediatric Oncology (SFOP). The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery.

OBJECTIVES

To develop clinical practice guidelines according to the definitions of Standards, Options and Recommendations for the clinical care of osteosarcoma in children and adult.

METHODS

Data have been identified by literature search using Medline (1985-december 1998) and the expert groups personal reference lists. The main criteria considered were incidence, risk factors, prognostic factors and efficacy of treatment. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to 27 national and international independent reviewers, and to the medical committees of the 20 French Cancer Centres and, in particular, the 4 which have particular expertise in pediatric cancer management.

RESULTS

The main recommendations for osteosarcoma management are that: 1) the clinical diagnosis is based on appropriate clinical and radiological findings; 2) the final diagnosis is pathological and the biopsy should be performed by the surgeon who will subsequently perform the definitive surgery; 3) surgical biopsy must be of adequate size and performed by an experienced surgeon; 4) the therapeutic strategy for osteosarcoma is based on surgery with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy given in experienced centres. Inclusion of high dose methotrexate is recommended for children, and the dose of methotrexate must be adapted for adults. Inclusion of children in SFOP protocols and adults in EORTC and FNCLCC clinical trials is recommended; 5) treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma is based on chemotherapy and surgery to lung metastases which may be curative. Amputation is rarely appropriate. Inclusion of children in SFOP and of adult in EORTC and FNCLCC clinical trials for metastatic osteosarcoma is recommended; 6) at the present time, there are no clear data on which to base guidelines for timing and duration of follow-up studies in this condition.

[Screening and early detection in blood transfusion: when are they indicated?]

Screening is proposed to allow an early intervention concerning a diseased individual, but its public health consequences are seldom considered. We propose criteria to judge whether a screening program can be associated to a benefit to patients or society. These criteria refer to the magnitude of disease, the characteristics of the pre-clinical stage, the availability of reliable and valid tests, the effectiveness and risk for all individuals, whether they are diseased or not, and acceptability to the health-care system and to individuals. We illustrate the application of these criteria to screening of human immunodeficiency virus among blood donors, hepatitis among recipients of labile blood products, and bacterial contaminations among febrile recipients. These criteria should be considered in decision analyses including alternatives to screening and all aspects of safety regarding patients and population.

Individual and environmental factors associated with infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans serotype D. French Cryptococcosis Study Group

Differences between the two varieties of Cryptococcus neoformans with regard to geographic distribution, epidemiology, and even pathogenicity have been described. None between C. neoformans variety neoformans serotypes A and D have been reported. We reviewed 452 cases of cryptococcosis diagnosed in France, where serotype D is responsible for 21% of the infections. Univariate analysis showed that the frequency of serotype D infections was significantly higher among patients > 60 years of age, those born in Europe, those receiving corticosteroid therapy, and those who had skin lesions. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of serotype D infection was significantly higher for patients with skin lesions, those receiving corticosteroid therapy, and those living in certain regions in France. It was significantly lower for patients with meningitis those coming from Africa, and females. Among the 350 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, the risk was significantly higher for those > 60 years old, those who were intravenous drug abusers, and those with skin lesions. The risk was significantly lower for patients from Africa and in cases of meningitis. These results suggest that individual and environmental factors can be associated with the serotype of the infecting strain of C. neoformans.

Epidemiology of cryptococcosis in France: a 9-year survey (1985-1993). French Cryptococcosis Study Group

We analyzed the data collected during a nationwide survey of cryptococcosis (1985-1993). We first checked the quality of the survey. The stability of its completeness (approximately 50%) and its representativity were assessed by the capture-recapture method after we cross-checked our data on cryptococcosis (as a presenting manifestation of AIDS) against those of the national registry of AIDS. Of the 1,057 cases of cryptococcosis (1,013 patients), 827 (86%) involved patients with AIDS. The increasing number of cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related cryptococcosis over time paralleled the AIDS epidemic except for a higher male-to-female ratio. Malignancies (32%), organ transplantation (19%), and corticosteroid therapy (33%) were the main predisposing conditions in 163 patients without AIDS. Cryptococcal meningitis more frequently occurred in patients with AIDS than in HIV-negative patients (P < 10(-6)). Among the 413 isolates available for serotyping, 410 were Cryptococcus neoformans variety neoformans (including 20.5% of serotype D). Three isolates of the variety gattii (serotype B) were recovered from patients without AIDS.

Comparison of the efficacy of amphotericin B and fluconazole in the treatment of cryptococcosis in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients: retrospective analysis of 83 cases. French Cryptococcosis Study Group

We retrospectively analyzed clinical outcome of meningeal and extrameningeal cryptococcosis in HIV-negative patients treated with amphotericin B (43 patients) or fluconazole (40 patients). Amphotericin B and fluconazole were prescribed equally to patients with neoplastic diseases and no risk factor, but organ transplant recipients and patients with other diseases were mostly given fluconazole and amphotericin B, respectively. Patients with more severe infections (i.e., meningitis, neurological disorders, or higher levels of antigen in cerebrospinal fluid) were more frequently treated with amphotericin B. A cure rate of > 70% was achieved regardless of the initial treatment and the severity of the infection. A Cox regression analysis showed that age of > 60 years, neoplastic disease, abnormal mental status, disseminated infection at the time of diagnosis, and therapeutic failure were independent predictors of death. Although fluconazole appears to be as effective as amphotericin B, only a prospective multicenter study will determine the best treatment regimen for patients with cryptococcal meningitis who do not have AIDS.

Molecular typing of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype D clinical isolates

Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A is responsible for the majority of cryptococcal infections in AIDS patients. In France, approximately 17% of the patients are infected with serotype D, regardless of their human immunodeficiency virus status. In a retrospective study of 273 patients, we found that serotype D was unevenly distributed in France. We wondered if this was related to the yeast's genetic background. We used karyotyping and DNA fingerprints generated by UT-4p to analyze 40 serotype D clinical isolates. We found an extensive polymorphism, with only two conserved karyotypes from drug-addicted patients living in the same area. Although highly variable, the DNA fingerprints were classified into 10 groups. Four pairs of isolates were identical; three of these pairs were from patients living in the same area, but there was no other correlation with the geographical area. The two isolates with identical karyotypes belonged to the same fingerprint group. Five of the six isolates that made up fingerprint group I were recovered from drug-addicted patients (P < 0.002; chi-square), and all five isolates found in fingerprint group III were from male homosexual patients (P < 0.02). Finally, five of the seven isolates from patients with cryptococcal pneumonia were classified as fingerprint group V (P < 0.04). These results suggest that there are possible relationships between characteristics of the isolates and body localization or even risk factors. Results of the present study warrant other studies on isolates of all serotypes and on isolates from clinical and environmental sources.